The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has officially scheduled the bye-election for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State on February 3, 2024.
The bye-election as noticed by newsmen, is necessitated by the passing away of the elected member for the constituency shortly after the 2023 general election Isma’ila Yushau Maihanci.
At the time of filing this report, six, out of the eight aspirants jostling for the position from the various political parties are from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Although the leadership of INEC in the state were not available at the time of filing this report to speak on the level of preparation, some staff of the commission who confided in newsmen said preparation is on top gear.
The staff who said they are waiting for the parties to conduct their primaries said they would provide a level playground for the candidates that eventually emerge from the primaries.
Urging the parties to conduct free, fair and credible primaries, the commission, according to our sources from INEC, will not condone any political parties that violate the electoral law.
“As far as we are concerned, we are going to create a level playground for all the candidates and their political parties.
”It is our prayers and hopes that they will also reciprocate by following the rules of the game as laid down by the commission so that no candidate will be disqualified from participating in the forthcoming bye-election.” The commission’s staff stated.
Some of the aspirants, especially those from the PDP who bared their minds to our reporter, urged the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas and the party’s leadership to allow the people of the constituency to make their choice of candidacy.
He asked the leadership of the state not to interfere in the primary and that anointing a particular candidate would be inimical to the growth of the party.
The party, through its spokesperson, Andetarang Iramae assured the aspirants of the party’s readiness to conduct a free and transparent primary for all of them